Adjustably shielded suction drum for circulating bath liquid



March 13, 1962 H. KOMPASS 3,024,493

ADJUSTABLY SHIELDED SUCTION DRUM FOR CIRCULATING BATH LIQUID Filed Jan. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M/VENTOR HEL-MQF Konfns$ WLHAEb 5. 51am? March 13, 1962 ADJUSTABLY SHIELDED SUCTION DRUM FOR KOMPASS CIRCULATING BATH LIQUID 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1959 000000000000 nYQ OOQdAv Q Oj 000000000000 000000000000 000000000000 00000000000 00000000000 I|OOOOOOOOOOO OOGGQGOG O OO 00000000000 000000000000 Q G GHv Q O Q G U OO 000000000000 .CCIIiIr...

MICHAEL March 13, 1962 H. KOMPASS 3,024,493

ADJUSTABLY SHIELDED SUCTION DRUM FOR CIRCULATING BATH LIQUID Filed Jan. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

I/VVf/W'OR He'Lnu'r Kan Fess Unite rates Patent 3,024,493 ADJUSTABLY SHIELDED SUCTION DRUM FOR CRCULATING BATH LIQUID Helmut Kompass, Siegburg, Rhineland, Germany, assignor to Phrix-Werke A.G., Hamburg, Germany Filed Jan. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 787,703 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 30, 1958 3 Claims. (Cl. 188) The invention relates to an apparatus for the wet spinning of synthetic fiber, and more particularly to an apparatus for passing synthetic fiber material from the spinning nozzle through the various baths of treating liquid employed to set or harden the fiber by chemical and physical processes, and hereinafter generally referred to as spinning baths and spinning liquids.

When spinning apparatus of the aforedescribed type and of conventional design is to be started up, a substantial amount of time and labor has to be spent on threading the filaments or groups of filaments produced by the spinning nozzles through the various spinning baths. When continuous operation is at last achieved, the passage of the gradually setting fiber material through the spinning bath or baths is fraught with a number of processing difficulties.

It is generally undesirable to apply longitudinal stresses to the fiber material during the initial stages of the solidification process. Still, such stresses cannot be entirely overcome in the equipment now commonly employed in the industry.

While rapid relative movement of fiber material and spinning liquid would be desirable for complete uniform wetting of each filament as soon as it emerges from the spinning nozzle, such rapid movement is not possible without distorting the freshly extruded material which shows very little resistance to plastic deformation even by a stream of liquid.

It is a primary object of the present invention to facilitate starting up of spinning apparatus so as to save time and labor.

Another object is the provision of transporting means for passing the fiber material through the spinning bath or baths without tensioning the fiber material.

Yet another object is the maintenance of such conditions in the spinning bath that the individual filaments of each group of filaments emit-ted from a spinning nozzle be uniformly wetted for reaction with the spinning bath.

A further object is the provision of rapid flow of the bath liquid relative to the fiber material without any tensioning of the latter.

With these and other objects in view, the invention contemplates introducing the fiber material into a bath of spinning liquid, generating a flow of spinning liquid in the bath in one direction toward an endless, continuously movable support so as to urge the fiber material against the support, and moving the support through the bath so as to move the fiber material relative to the bath without tensioning.

To perform this process, I prefer to employ a container, a treating liquid or spinning bath in the container, and means for continuously introducing the fiber material into the container for treatment with the spinning or treating liquid. Transportation means are continuously movable in the container for transporting the material through the liquid without tensioning it. Additional means are provided for withdrawing the material from the container.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as to its construction, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevational longitudinal section of a wet spinning apparatus embodying a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of one of the elements of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of the device of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown apparatus for applying the process of the invention to the wet spinning of rayon by the viscose process. The apparatus includes two tanks 1 and 2, to which spinning liquids are fed through perforated feed pipes 1 and 2' respectively. A constant level of treating liquid is maintained in the tanks by means of overflow arrangements which discharge liquid continuously into overflow troughs 1" and 2" respectively.

A plurality of spinning nozzles 3 only one of which is visible in FIG. 1 is arranged in tank 1 and axially aligned relative to a hollow drum 4 which is rotatably supported in the tank 1. It is mounted on a shaft 30 which is driven by a suitable prime mover such as an electric motor for rotation in the direction of the arrow.

The fiber material 5 which is deposited on the curved surface of drum 4 by nozzle 3 is carried by the drum through substantially a complete turn of the drum. Since the overflow is arranged at such a level as to keep the drum 4 completely submersed, the fiber material 5 is exposed to the chemical and physical action of the spin ning solution during its travel. There is no relative movement of fiber material and drum surface so that the material is not subjected to tensile stresses in the initial stages of the setting process.

Details of tank 1 and of the equipment associated with it are shown in FIG. 2 which represents an elevational sectional view of the tank 1 through the axis of shaft 25. The shaft has a free end to carry a pulley or other connecting means for driving connection with a prime mover and is journalled in a stationary member of the equipment. It enters tank 1 through a stuffing box 26 in substantially fluid-tight manner. It is axially secured to flat end wall 7 of drum 4. The center of the end wall 7 and the adjacent portion of shaft 25 are provided with an axial cylindrical bore 27 the purpose of which will become apparent promptly.

The other end wall 28 of drum 4 is formed with an axial opening and is rotatably movable on a short length of pipe 8 which passes in fluid-tight engagement through the wall of tank 1 into a pump chamber 9 in which a centrifugal pump 11, driven by electric motor 10, is ar ranged in such a manner that its axial suction opening communicates with pipe 8 and liquid is drawn through the pipe from the interior of drum 4 by pump 11 and discharged into the pumping chamber 9 from which it returns into the tank 1 through several ports 18, one of which only is shown in FIG. 2. The cylindrical wall 6 of drum 4 is perforated. The openings in wall 6 are spaced in a substantially regular pattern and permit continuous flow of spinning liquid from tank 1 into the interior of drum 4 when pump 11 is driven by motor 10.

If it is desired to operate drum 4 in a partly submersed condition, air could be drawn through the perforations of drum wall 6 above liquid level. prevent suificient negative pressure to be developed inside drum 4 to cause a satisfactory inward flow of spinning liquid. Such operating conditions are illustrated in the second spinning bath of FIG. 1 in which the drum 4' partly projects above the top surface of the liquid. Drum 4 is equipped in the same manner as drum 4 shown in FIG. 2.

This would In order to prevent, or at least to restrict air intake through that portion of drum wall 6 which extends beyond the liquid level, the drum is equipped with an internal shield 12 fixedly mounted on pipe 8 and rotatably supported in axial cavity 27 of shaft 30. The shield 12 is of cylindrical shape and snugly fits the inside of the cylindrical wall 6 of drum 4. It extends circumferentially over and beyond that portion of wall 6 which emerges from the spinning liquid. Shield 12 may also be arranged in such a manner as to prevent or reduce inward flow of liquid through the perforations in cylindrical wall 6 where this may be desired in order either to increase inward flow in other surface portions or to selectively reduce or cancel the suction force caused by the radially inward flow of liquid through the perforatlons.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is seen that the diameter of hollow drums 4 and 4' is only slightly smaller than the length of the tanks so that the drums which extend substantially over the full width of the tank, as seen in FIG. 2, almost completely fill the tanks. Heat transfer elements 29 and 29' are provided along the walls of the tanks to maintain the temperature of the spinning liquids at a predetermined value. A transfer cylinder 13 tangentially cooperates with drum 4 to guide the fiber material from the perforated surface of drum 4 and out of tank 1. Cylinder 13 is in circumferential engagement with one cylinder of a pair of pinch cylinders 14 and 15 between which the fiber material may be squeezed. Another transfer cylinder 13' in circumferential contact with pinch cylinder 14 guides fiber material 5 towards the perforated surface of drum 4' in the second spinning bath in tank 2. The cylinders 13, 13, 14 and 15 are suitably driven.

A driven transfer cylinder 13" withdraws the fiber material 5 from the surface of drum 4 after passage through the liquid bath in tank 2 and transfers it to a second set of pinch cylinders 14' and 15' from which it is further passed to driven sets of guide and stretch cylinders 16 and 17 which transport the fiber material, which now is completely solidified, to a cutting device in which the continuous filaments may be severed into pieces of suitable length for spinning on conventional mechanical spinning equipment.

Nozzles 3 and transfer cylinders 13, 13' and 13 are arranged closely adjacent to each other along the circumference of drums 4 and 4' respectively, so that the fiber material 5 is caused to travel over substantially a full turn of the drum in the respective tanks 1 and 2.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the nozzles 3 are mounted at the ends of tubes 19 which carry filters 20 and receive liquid spinnable fiber material from individual pumps 23 which are connected by a manifold to suitable storage means (not shown).

The nozzles 3 and their coordinated carrying tubes 19 and pumps 23 are individually pivotally supported in a frame 21, and a plurality of nozzles 3 may be pivoted towards and away from the surface of drum 4 by means of levers 22. When in their position adjacent drum 4, the nozzles are secured by engagement of filters 20 in resilient clips 24 mounted on the upper rim of a wall of tank 1.

The afore-described apparatus operates as follows:

Tanks 1 and 2 are filled with spinning liquids to the desired level determined by the respective overflow arrangements and pumps 11 of drums 4 and 4' are started to circulate the respective liquids inwardly through the perforations in the cylindrical surfaces of the drum and back into the tanks through ports 18. Synchronized rotation of the drums and cylinders is started.

Liquid fiber material is extruded through nozzles 3 by the pressure generated in pumps 23. The extruded material reacts with the spinning liquid in tank 1 so as to gradually solidify. Almost immediately after leaving the nozzles 3, the solidifying fiber material reaches the endless, continuously moving cylindrical surface of drum 4 and is held against the surface by the suction effect of the spinning liquid inwardly flowing through the perforations of the drum. The fiber material thus is transported through the liquid while in stationary contact with the drum surface over substantially a full turn of the drum. During its travel through the liquid in tank 1 the liquid is acted upon by a rapidly flowing stream of spinning liquid which rushes past the fiber material through the perforation in the drum 4. Although the relative velocity of liquid and fiber material is great, and preferably greater than the rate of longitudinal travel of the fiber material through the liquid, no tensioning of the fibers can be caused because of the frictional contact of the fiber material with the drum surface. Complete wetting of every individual extruded filament is thus achieved very rapidly and without distortion of the filamerits.

When the starting ends of the filaments emerge in the gap between transporting drum 4 and transfer cylinder 13, they may readily be grasped by an operator and led into the pinching space between cylinders 14 and 15. Threading of the spinning apparatus then continues by introducing the ends of the fiber material between transfer cylinder 13 and transporting drum 4, whereupon they are carried about the path of the surface of drum 4' by the suction effect of the liquid rushing through the perforations of drum 4 in the same manner and with the same effect as described above with respect to drum 4 in tank 1.

Threading of the apparatus then continues in an analogous fashion by passage of the leading ends of the filaments between cylinders 14, 15" and through the cylinder sets 16 and 17 to the cutting device. It will be readily appreciated that this arrangement saves time and labor as compared to the threading of a type of spinning bath now commonly in use.

The arrangement of the several transport and guide means of the inventive apparatus provides for tangential transfer of the fiber material between the various means without abrupt changes in the direction of travel of the material so as to avoid tensioning inherent in such changes. While immersed in the spinning liquids, the fiber material is effectively secured against any longitudinal tension while in intimate contact with a vigorously moving spinning liquid.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of wet spinning apparatus differing from'the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in apparatus for the spinning of viscose rayon, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an arrangement for the wet spinning of continuous synthetic fibers, a container adapted to contain a spinning bath; a plurality of spinning nozzles in said container for releasing fiber material into said container for treatment in said spinning bath; a hollow drum supported for rotation in said container, said drum being formed with a plurality of openings in the curved surface thereof for providing communication between the container outside said drum and the inside of said drum; shielding means adjustably secured to said container closely adiacent a portion of said openings in the curved surface of said drum for selectively obstructing portions of said openings as said surface moves relative to said shielding means; suction means communicating with the inside of said drum for continuously withdrawing fluid therefrom and for feeding said fluid back into said container, whereby said fiber material is urged against the curved surface of said drum by the flow of fluid through said openings to be held by suction thereon while being subjected to intensified treatment by said fluid, said drum being located in said container for a portion of said curved surface to be continuously movable in said container between an area closely adjacent said spinning nozzles and an area remote therefrom for transporting said fiber material from said spinning nozzles through said container without tensioning said material; and means for continuously withdrawing said material in said remote area from said drum and from said container.

2. In an arrangement for wet spinning of continuous synthetic fibers, in combination, a container adapted to contain a spinning bath; introducing means for continuously introducing said fiber material into said container for treatment in said spinning bath; a hollow substantially cylindrical drum supported for rotation in said container and being formed with a plurality of openings through the cylindrical wall thereof for providing communication between the container outside said drum and the interior of said drum; suction means communicating with the interior of said drum for continuously withdrawing fiuid therefrom and for feeding said fluid back into said container, whereby said fiber material is urged against the peripheral surface of said drum by the flow of fluid through said openings to be held by suction on the outer drum surface while being subjected to intensified treatment by said fluid; means for continuously withdrawing said fiber material from the peripheral surface of said drum and from said container, said introducing means and said withdrawal means being arranged closely adjacent the periphery of said drum and closely adjacent each other and so that the part of the periphery of said drum in direction of rotation between said introducing means and said withdrawal means has a length being a multiple of the length of the drum periphery between said withdraw-a1 means and said introducing means; and shielding means adjustably secured to said container between said introducing means and said withdrawal means and closely adjacent a portion of said openings in the peripheral wall of said drum for selectively obstructing said portions of said openings as said peripheral wall moves relative to said shielding means.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 2 in which said shielding means extends over the openings passing through said part of the peripheral surface of said drum from which said fiber material is withdrawn at any instant by said withdrawal means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,590,594 Taylor June 29, 1926 1,794,403 Honhart Mar. 3, 1931 1,950,089 Morse Mar. 6, 1934 2,086,888 Netzeche July 13, 1937 2,156,923 Picard May 2, 1939 2,319,305 Nooij May 18, 1943 2,619,677 Ryon Dec. 2, 1952 2,687,363 Manning Aug. 24, 1954 2,878,547 McMaster Mar. 24, 1959 

